Anne Eschapasse – Speaker
Awakening Change and Nurturing Connections: The McCord Stewart Museum’s Work with First Peoples
President & Chief Executive Officer of the McCord Stewart Museum
Abstract:
In this presentation, Anne Eschapasse examines how three decades of political and social change have reshaped relationships between museums and Indigenous communities in Canada. Drawing from metrics and benchmarks, she reveals how institutional transformations in Montreal’s McCord Stewart Museum's practices are impacting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences. Through the presentation of several decolonization initiatives, Eschapasse demonstrates how cultural institutions can move beyond performative changes to create meaningful encounters and lasting partnerships for the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of Indigenous cultural heritage.
Bio:
Anne Eschapasse (she/her) is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the McCord Stewart Museum, Montreal’s museum of social history. A vibrant landmark in the heart of the city for over 100 years, the Museum sheds light on the stories, vitality, creativity and diversity of the individuals and communities that make up North America’s francophone metropolis.
A seasoned executive with over 20 years of international experience leading museums and cross-functional teams, Anne is committed to fostering intercultural and intergenerational dialogue and advancing social change through storytelling, sustainable practices, and reconciliation with First Peoples. She has served as Director of Exhibitions & Education at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Deputy Director, Exhibitions & Outreach of the National Gallery of Canada, and Deputy Director of Montreal’s Contemporary Art Museum. Amongst her accomplishments are the reinstallation of the National Gallery of Canada’s Canadian and Indigenous art galleries inaugurated for Canada’s 150th anniversary, the European tour of the acclaimed exhibition Canada and Impressionism, the inaugural cultural and exhibitions program for a new building designed by OMA, and the production of several exhibitions presented at the Canada Pavilion for the Venice Biennale.
🎟 Join us at CTA Amsterdam 2025 to rethink how museums engage with Indigenous communities.
📅 17-19 June, 2025